Hepatitis A

Hepatitis is an inflammation if the liver. In Hepatitis A the inflammation is caused by a virus.

Cause

The cause for hepatitis A is the Hepatitis A Virus (HAV) which is contracted in the following ways:

Ingestion of fecal-contaminated food or water

Sexual contact with someone that in infected

Blood transfusions

Contact with infected body fluids

Needles that are contaminated

Transmission between mother and child during pregnancy

Risk Groups

People who travel internationally

People living in areas where hepatitis A outbreaks are common

People who live with or have sex with people that are infected

Men who have sex with men

Injecting and non-injecting drug users

Symptoms

Children do not have these signs and symptoms as often as adults.

Jaundice

Fatigue

Abdominal Pain

Loss of appetite

Nausea

Diarrhea

Fever

Treatment

Hepatitis A Resolves on its own over a period of several weeks.

Prevention

The best way to prevent against Hepatitis A is to get the Hepatitis A vaccine. The vaccine is recommended for people from a year old and older who fall into the risk group. For a short term protection would be immune globulin. Immune globulin can be give before and up to two weeks after contact with HAV (Hepatitis A Virus). An everyday prevent against Hepatitis A would be to wash your hands with soap and water after using the bathroom, changing a diaper, and before preparing or eating food.

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